The mum of a young tyre fitter killed in a horrific incident at work has condemned his company for putting her family through "10 years of hell" before finally admitting health and safety failures.

Matthew, 21, died instantly on January 27, 2006, when a 5ft low loader tyre exploded as he inflated it with a pump after being given a faulty pressure gauge.

But only last Friday – just two days after the 10th anniversary of his death – did Watling Tyres admit failing to protect the young worker from health and safety risks.

His mother Carolyn Hoare, of Shalmsford Street, Chartham, said: "Basically, they have put the family through 10 years of hell.

"Of course there is a sense of relief and emotion, but we are also angry at the time it took them to admit what we already knew.

"I am a full-time foster carer and have not been able to stop work throughout all that time.

"I feel like haven’t really had the chance to grieve because it has been hanging over us.

"I only read the pathology report on Matthew recently and it was quite horrific."

An inquest in 2013 heard Matthew had been sent from the firm’s Canterbury depot to a brickworks near Sandwich, but was not experienced with the type of tyre he was inflating.

The pressure gauge he was supplied with was also faulty, causing Matthew to over-inflate the tyre until it exploded.

"They have put the family through 10 years of hell - Carolyn Hoare, Matthew's mum

Following a lengthy investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), Watling Tyres was charged with failing to ensure Matthew was not exposed to risk to his health and safety.

The firm admitted the offence, and also pleaded guilty to a similar charge in relation to Michael Burgess – who worked at the brickworks – for "exposing him to risk during vehicle tyre repair and fitting".

At the inquest into Matthew’s death, coroner Rebecca Cobb was told a HSE investigation found failings in training and equipment which resulted in Watling Tyres being issued with an improvement notice.

But she ruled the jury could not consider verdicts of unlawful killing or corporate manslaughter, leading jurors to reach a conclusion of accidental death.

Mrs Hoare says she will wait for the outcome of ongoing criminal proceedings before discussing with her solicitor whether there are grounds to call for a new inquest hearing in light of the admission by Watling Tyres.

She also says the family are considering lodging a claim for damages against the company, which is expected to be hit with a heavy fine when sentenced at a later date.

Watling Tyres director, Andrew Wright, 58, will face trial at Canterbury Crown Court after he denied two similar health and safety failures. He has been bailed until April.

Additional reporting by Paul Hooper